How to Do Hand Exercises to Improve Hand Strength

Perform hand exercises every day for best results.

If you have arthritis or weak hands, hand exercises can help improve hand strength. Exercise is the best way to keep your joints from getting stiff, which happens with arthritis. These hand exercises will help you improve your finger flexibility and improve the strength in your hands so that you can better grip and hold objects.

Instructions

1. Hold one hand upright with the palm open and your fingers relaxed. You should look like you are saying stop with your hand.

2. Bring your thumb across your palm as far as you can as you reach toward the base of your little finger. Hold this position for 3 to 5 seconds. Bring your thumb back to the starting position. This hand exercise helps to improve flexibility in your thumb as well as in the side of your hand.

3. Make a loose fist with your thumb on the outside. Your thumb should be around the curl of your fingers. Hold this for 3 to 5 seconds. This hand exercise helps to not only loosen the joints but also build hand strength by working the muscles in the whole hand.

4. Open your fist, and straighten and spread your fingers as far as possible. Hold this position for 3 to 5 seconds.

5. Start the hand exercises over from Step 1, and repeat the sequence at least 3 to 5 times.

Tips & Warnings

• If you have severe arthritis take it easy on the hand exercises and do as much as you can to begin with to improve hand strength and flexibility as continue with the exercises.

References

• WebMD: Hand-Stretching Exercises for Rheumatoid Arthritis